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Tunisian police on Wednesday arrested Issam Chebbi, leader of the Republican Party, Chaima Issa, an activist who took part in the 2011 revolution, and surrounded the home of Jawher Ben Mbarek, a critic of President Kais Saied. These three opponents are close to the National Salvation Front, a coalition that the head of state has accused of being “paid” and made up of criminals.
In Tunisia, the police on Wednesday February 22 arrested two prominent opposition figures and surrounded the home of a third critic of President Kaïs Saïed, who describes his opponents as criminals and traitors who want to harm state security.
The arrests are part of a crackdown on key opponents of Kais Saied over the past two weeks, including the detention of politicians, judges and media personalities.
Issam Chebbi, leader of the Republican Party, was arrested while he was with his wife near a shopping mall, his lawyers and family have said. His home was later raided by the police.
Chaima Issa, an activist who took part in the 2011 revolution, was arrested while she was in her vehicle surrounded by police, her lawyer said.
The police also surrounded Jawher Ben Mbarek’s home during the day in order to arrest him, but he was not there, his sister and his lawyers said.
Coalition d’opposition
Issam Chebbi is the brother of Nejib Chebbi, who leads the National Salvation Front – a coalition of opposition groups that have organized protests once morest Kais Saïed. Jawher Ben Mbarek and Chaima Issa are figures in this coalition.
Speaking in a video posted on the internet on Wednesday, Kais Saïed described the National Salvation Front as a “paid” organization made up of criminals whom “Tunisia wants to get rid of”.
Police and the Interior Ministry declined requests for comment on the arrests made on Wednesday. Lawyers say some of those recently arrested are charged with conspiracy once morest state security.
The detained boss of the private Tunisian radio Mosaïque FM is being prosecuted for “money laundering and illegal enrichment”, his lawyers said on Wednesday, denouncing a “political” file in retaliation for a critical program.
Noureddine Boutar, director of the most listened to radio station in Tunisia, was arrested along with nine political figures during a dragnet launched by the authorities in early February. A warrant of committal was issued once morest him on Monday night, according to his lawyers, who claimed following his arrest that his questioning touched on the station’s editorial line.
Kais Said has publicly stated that arrests have targeted people believed to be responsible for a shortage of food and fuel. Economists believe that the situation stems from the crisis in public finances.
Coordinated repression
Since he dissolved Parliament in the summer of 2021 and granted himself almost all the powers, the Tunisian president has governed by decree and launched the drafting of a new Constitution following a high-vote referendum. abstained last year. His opponents denounced a coup.
Kaïs Saïed describes his measures as legal and necessary to bring the country out of chaos, accusing his critics of being traitors and enemies of the state.
While some prominent politicians have been brought to justice since Kais Saied took over power, a coordinated crackdown on the opposition had never been implemented before this month.
With Archyde.com and AFP
